MilPayLabGuide · Pay
When Do New Military Pay Rates Take Effect? The 2026 Calendar
Military pay changes on a predictable calendar, but not all on the same day. Basic pay, housing and food allowances reset in January; VA compensation and retired pay change in December; some travel rates move mid-year. Here is when each rate took effect for 2026 and when you'll actually see it.
The 2026 rate calendar at a glance
| Rate | 2026 change | Effective | First seen in pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic pay | +3.8% for all grades | Jan. 1, 2026 | Mid-month pay, Jan. 15 |
| BAH | New rates, +4.2% average | Jan. 1, 2026 | Mid-month pay, Jan. 15 |
| BAS | $476.95 enlisted / $328.48 officer | Jan. 1, 2026 | Mid-month pay, Jan. 15 |
| TSP contribution limits | $24,500 elective limit | Jan. 1, 2026 | Tax year 2026 |
| Dislocation allowance | New DLA table | Jan. 1, 2026 | Moves on or after that date |
| Standard CONUS per diem | $110 lodging / $68 meals | Oct. 1, 2025 (FY2026) | Travel on or after that date |
| PCS mileage (MALT) | $0.235 per mile | July 1, 2026 | Travel on or after that date |
| VA disability compensation | +2.8% COLA | Dec. 1, 2025 | Payment around Jan. 1, 2026 |
| Military retired pay | +2.8% COLA | Dec. 1, 2025 | Retiree payment Dec. 31, 2025 |
Sources: DFAS, DTMO, GSA, TSP and VA, as listed below.
January 1: basic pay, BAH and BAS
The annual basic pay raise takes effect on January 1. For 2026 it is 3.8% for every grade, so an E-1 with more than four months of service now earns $2,407.20 a month. Because active duty members are paid on the 1st and 15th for the current month, the raise first appears in the January 15 mid-month payment.
New BAH rates are published by the Defense Travel Management Office in December and also take effect January 1. For 2026 they rose 4.2% on average, but individual areas moved by more or less, and rate protection lets members already at a duty station keep last year's rate if the new one is lower. BAS changes on January 1 as well, based on food costs.
December 1: VA compensation and retired pay
VA disability compensation and military retired pay rise with the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment, which for 2026 is 2.8%. The increase is effective December 1, 2025. VA pays at the beginning of each month for the prior month, so the December increase shows up in the payment that arrives around January 1. DFAS paid the first retired pay at the new rate on December 31, 2025, and the first Survivor Benefit Plan annuity payment on January 2, 2026. See the 2026 VA disability pay chart for the new rates.
2026 active duty paydays
Active duty pay is split into two payments: a mid-month payment on the 15th and an end-of-month payment on the 1st of the following month. When either date falls on a weekend or federal holiday, DFAS pays on the last business day before it — which is why several end-of-month payments land on the last day of the month. The full 2026 schedule:
| Pay period | Mid-month payday | End-of-month payday |
|---|---|---|
| January | Jan. 15 | Jan. 30 |
| February | Feb. 13 | Feb. 27 |
| March | Mar. 13 | Apr. 1 |
| April | Apr. 15 | May 1 |
| May | May 15 | June 1 |
| June | June 15 | July 1 |
| July | July 15 | July 31 |
| August | Aug. 14 | Sep. 1 |
| September | Sep. 15 | Oct. 1 |
| October | Oct. 15 | Oct. 30 |
| November | Nov. 13 | Dec. 1 |
| December | Dec. 15 | Dec. 31 |
Each end-of-month LES is posted in myPay about a week before payday, and a notice of pay advisory is available before each mid-month payment.
Other dates that change your money
- TSP limits. The IRS announces next year's limits each fall and they apply from January 1. For 2026 the elective limit is $24,500, with catch-up contributions of $8,000 at 50 and over and $11,250 for those turning 60 to 63.
- Per diem. CONUS per diem rates follow the federal fiscal year and change October 1. The FY2026 standard rate is $110 for lodging and $68 for meals and incidentals.
- Mileage. The PCS mileage rate (MALT) rose to $0.235 per mile for travel on or after July 1, 2026, following a mid-year IRS mileage update.
- Leave. The fiscal year also resets leave. Any balance above 60 days is generally lost on October 1.
- Promotions and service anniversaries. Basic pay steps up the month you pass a years-of-service milestone or pin on a new grade, independent of the January raise.
When the new numbers are announced
Knowing announcement dates helps you plan. The Social Security COLA that drives VA and retiree increases is announced in October. TSP and IRS limits usually follow in November. DTMO releases BAH in mid-December, and DFAS posts new pay tables once the pay raise is final, usually in December or early January. This site updates its calculators and rate charts as each official table is published.
Planning around the calendar
A few practical consequences follow from these dates. If you're choosing when to move, remember that the PCS mileage rate changed mid-year in 2026, so driving on or after July 1 is reimbursed at the higher rate. If you're budgeting for January, count on the raise arriving in the January 15 payment, but expect the first January LES to show several other changes at once, including a new tax year for withholding. Veterans waiting for the COLA should look for it in the payment that arrives at the start of January, not in December's. And if you're close to the 60-day leave limit, plan time off before October 1 rather than after.
Reserve and Guard members
Reserve and National Guard members use the same basic pay tables, so the January raise applies to drill pay as well, paid at one day's basic pay per drill period. Their paydays follow a separate DFAS reserve schedule, so they won't necessarily match the active duty dates above.
What to check in January
- Basic pay on your January LES matches the new 2026 pay chart.
- BAH matches the 2026 rate for your duty station — or last year's rate if rate protection applies.
- BAS shows the new amount.
- TSP contribution percentages still get you the full match without hitting the new limit early.
- Federal and state withholding reflect the new tax year.
Frequently asked questions
When does the 2026 military pay raise start?
The 3.8% raise took effect January 1, 2026, and first appeared in the January 15 mid-month payment.
When do new BAH rates take effect?
New BAH rates take effect January 1 each year. DTMO publishes them in December.
When is the VA COLA paid?
The 2.8% COLA is effective December 1, 2025. Because VA pays for the prior month, the increase arrives in the payment made around January 1, 2026.
What happens if payday falls on a weekend?
DFAS pays on the last business day before the 1st or 15th. For example, February 1, 2026 was a Sunday, so the end-of-month payment for January came on Friday, January 30.
When does leave reset?
Leave follows the fiscal year. On October 1, any balance above the normal 60-day carryover limit is generally lost.
See what the January changes mean for your own paycheck with the military pay calculator.
Sources
- DFAS — 2026 active duty paydays
- DFAS — 2026 military pay tables
- DFAS — 2026 COLA for military retirees and SBP annuitants
- VA.gov — Current disability compensation rates
- VA — Disability compensation award attachment (payment timing)
- DTMO — Mileage reimbursement rate increase, July 2026
- GSA — Per Diem Bulletin FTR 26-01
- TSP Bulletin 25-3 — 2026 contribution limits
MilPayLab is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the U.S. Department of Defense, DFAS, DTMO or the Department of Veterans Affairs. Figures are taken from published government rate tables and are provided for information only, not as financial, legal or tax advice. Your finance office, your LES and your VA decision letter are the final word on what you are paid.